Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will invite him to talk not only to those of us who are gay, but also to our allies, supporters and family members so that he can see the values we uphold and stand for and the progress our country has made. I suggest we are lucky and privileged to be citizens of a country that voted in such numbers in favour of marriage equality, a vote that is now shown to be significant across the world. I remind the House of the progress we have made under the Taoiseach of our country, Deputy Enda Kenny, as leader of a Government and with the assistance of members of the Labour Party, in areas like marriage equality, Finance Bills, gender recognition and adoption. The leadership he has shown in a partnership Government cannot be underwritten by the fact that he is welcoming Mr. Pence to this country.